Does gluten free choux pastry work? Also need dairy free filling

[OMGitsnotgood]

A friend who i 'feed' fairly frequently can't have gluten, dairy, any chocolate, and various other things that aren't relevant to this question.
When eating out, they often end up with fruit or sorbet or just missing dessert. When they eat at other people's houses it is almost always (understandably) a fruit based dessert.
I like to try to make something that she rarely has - generally a cake made with ground almonds as well as GF flour, which tends to negate the need for xantham gum.
They will be coming to dinner next weekend with other guests. I was thinking of making profiteroles but have some questions:

1. does GF choux work? And do I really need Xantham Gum?
2. Will it taste like regular choux? I've made/eaten enough GF stuff with this friend to know GF versions don't always.
3. filling: i'd normally just use whipped cream. I've successfully used Oatley whippable cream for desserts before but can't always get it. Back up plan: Swedish Glace ice cream or creme pat made with oatmilk? Any other ideas?
4. Chocolate replacement for topping: obvious one is caramel but for some reason i've never been very successful with caramel

The answer is probably 'don't make Profiteroles' but would like to give them something they can't usually have.
Thanks

The solids from coconut milk whip up beautifully to make a whipped cream-like substitute. If bits are ok, obviously. I did this for my dad’s years ago, for a strawberry shortcake type dessert as dd2 was desperate for it (was gf as well as dairy free).

can’t help with the choir pastry as never tried that.

I've never made GF choux, but I've seen this recipe which looks good https://glutenfreeonashoestring.com/gluten-free-choux-pastry/ although the flour 'blend' has milk powder in so you'd need to substitute for standard GF flour. I think xanthan gum is usually for binding and as choux has eggs, you might not need it?

I think you could just use dark chocolate for a topping - lots of higher cocoa content bars are milk free.

If you wanted another alternative I can highly recommend this https://www.nigella.com/recipes/members/guacandrolls-a-vegan-salted-chocolate-tart I've made it loads of times and it's fabulous and you could easily substitute the biscuit crust for a GF sweet shortcrust pastry (xanthan gum definitely needed in this)

If your interested in something slightly different, I've found a recipe for gluten free, dairy free cheese cake which tastes amazing.

https://glutenfreecuppatea.co.uk/2019/11/29/gluten-free-profiteroles-recipe/
I’ve been meaning to try these for ages so can’t guarantee they’ll work, but everything else I’ve tried of hers has been excellent.

Choux pastry works fine gluten free. I just use a normal recipe but substitute gluten free flour. Creme pat sounds nice as a filling. There's a bakery near me that does coffee choux buns which might be a good alternative. Coffee flavoured filling and coffee icing on top?

Might your friend like a pavlova ? No flour necessary, use dairy free cream alternative and a compôte of seasonal fruit (plums, dark berries) ...

great idea, thank you

Thank you all, some great ideas.

Apologies for not stating the following in the OP but it was getting long!
i'd like to avoid Pavlova as it's a common dessert for them with yoghurt/ice cream filling & lots of fruit
Friend cannot tolerate any kind of chocolate, must be cocoa rather than milk related.

I would like to try GF choux but would be happier if someone had a recipe they have used successfully.

Thanks again

Choux pastry is usually pretty acceptable gluten free.

If you are fairly regularly cooking gluten free special desserts I highly reccomend the loopy whisk book

https://theloopywhisk.com/baked-to-perfection-gluten-free-cookbook/

And the Becky Excell books

Sorry @Malbecmoron seems i overlooked your post. So you don't use Xantham Gum at all? Do you know if the result is similar to non GF choux - if it's not as nice, am happy to make two batches but obviously if I can get away with one it would be easier. (i'd make them different shapes to ensure i didn't mix them up!)

I used to make gluten free choux from my exH. I’m trying to find the recipe but I never used xantham gum just the dove farm flour blend. It worked brilliantly, I don’t think you could tell they were gluten free

Are they dairy free or lactose free? If the latter, Arla do a lactose free cream in most large supermarkets.

filling: i'd normally just use whipped cream. I've successfully used Oatley whippable cream for desserts before but can't always get it. Back up plan: Swedish Glace ice cream or creme pat made with oatmilk? Any other ideas?

I recently discovered whilst googling that not all oat milk is GF.

I've made gluten free choux before, turned out quite nice but the recipe I followed used milk, not sure how it would work with a dairy free alternative.
Don't know if they still sell them but Tesco at least used to sell frozen gluten free dairy free profiteroles which were yum.

You can make an easy caramel topping using brown sugar and dairy free spread (I think, I use butter) perhaps add a flavour like vanilla. You will need to experiment a little due to it not being butter but essentially it's a little water, sugar and spread in pan on medium heat, bubble until thickens a little then drizzle. I do it for pancakes. Gluten free pancakes work well by the way

Alternatively Tesco have gf dairy free profiteroles, the chocolate is separate so you can substitute it

Great thank you.

I recently discovered whilst googling that not all oat milk is GF.

Ooh that is worth knowing, thank you.
Looks like the Oatley whipping 'cream' is ok

Just as a future alternative, if she can tolerate cocoa but not chocolate this brownie recipe is great https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/fudgy-coconut-brownies

It uses cocoa, rather than chocolate. The coconut can be easily substituted with either the same weight of walnuts, or even just flour to make them plain brownies. I’ve made it many times with gluten free flour as I’ve taken it to bake sales for coeliac colleagues.

Placemarking😀

I don't use any additives at all and it turns out great. My non gluten free family are very happy to eat it.

thank you @Malbecmoron

Candy melts are a good alternative to chocolate for melting ect unsure if it had milk in though. Just an idea for future use. You can make gluten free cake pops with them 😋

Well I'm not entirely sure, as I've found it hard to get a complete answer so now I just check with them what I'm planning on making and they let me know if I need to replace anything dairy wise

Will have look at this as I do cook for this friend several times a year